voyager1970 » 10 окт 2007, 23:27
Bus fares will rise unless diesel price falls quickly
Board backs increases of Bt0.50 to Bt1 in response to hike in fuel costs
All bus fares will rise from next Monday to meet rising fuel costs. The Central Land Transport Control Board yesterday approved the increases.
The hike will not take effect if diesel prices fall between now and Monday to Bt26.84 a litre," board chairman and Transport Ministry deputy permanent secretary Surachai Tharnsit-pong said yesterday. The price today is Bt27.34.
This means all Bangkok Mass Transit Authority buses and buses operated by its concessionaires will see fares rise between Bt0.50 and Bt1.
Minibus fares rise to Bt7, non-air-conditioned buses without fans to Bt7.50 and those with fans to Bt8.50.
For air-conditioned buses, trip prices will rise Bt1 to between Bt12 and Bt20. For Euro air-conditioned buses, fares will climb to between Bt13 and Bt25.
All inter-provincial buses will charge an additional Bt0.03 per kilometre.
Surachai said the increase was in response to rising petrol prices. Fuel accounts for half of bus operating costs.
He said the final decision to increase fares was up to the operators themselves.
Land Transport Department director-general Silapachai Jarukasemrattana said it would distribute the new fare table within two weeks.
"We will study the possibility of selling monthly tickets to everyone, not just students," he said.
He believed monthly tickets should be at least 10 per cent cheaper than full fare.
Silapachai added the department would work with the transit authority, inter-provincial and private companies to develop long-term solutions to the impact of fuel price fluctuations on fares.
Inter-provincial operator Transport Company director Pinet Puapattanakul said it would meet on Friday to consider the fare hike. "We will consult with the transport minister," he said. Transport Com-pany is a state enterprise.
Its acting president Wuthi-chart Kallayanamit said it would consider a request by its concessionaires to increase fares by Bt0.08 per kilometre.
Carpe Diem
"He who controls the present, controls the past. He who controls the past, controls the future."
-- George Orwell